Rector Search Status
The Rev. Dorian Mulvey, Rector of St. Anthony on the Desert for the past twelve years, has announced her retirement effective December 14, 2020. We greatly appreciate her leadership and guidance to our faith community encouraging us to continue to grow spiritually, to priorize stewardship and to continually look for ways to help our community, country and world. Godspeed, Dorian and George. Well done.
Letter from Senior Warden, Dan Austin
November 19, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am delighted to announce the formation of the St. Anthony Rector Search Committee, a team of eight fellow parishioners who will lead our search for a new Rector in 2021.
Jeanne Paige is both co-chair of the Committee and Vestry liaison to the group. Joining her as co-chair is Marianne Clarke. The other members of the search committee are Paul Basha, Harry Boysen, Kelle Hohl, Jill Kyler, Melody Taylor and Harrison Woods. In addition, the committee will draw on the considerable expertise of others in the congregation as those skills are needed. Junior Warden Claudia Johnson and I will serve in an ex-officio capacity.
The committee’s work will begin in earnest in the New Year. Your leadership is now in discussion with the Diocese about the appointment of an Interim priest to serve St. Anthony both during the search period and in the transition to a new clergy leader. We also are aiming to retain a Diocesan-approved consultant to aid the committee. The Rev. Canon Anita Braden, the Canon to the Ordinary (the Bishop’s right hand), is providing us with guidance and support as well. She will be meeting with the Vestry in January.
For those of you who have not experienced a Rector search in the Episcopal Church, please know that this process has a two-fold purpose. First, it is an opportunity to take stock of where we have been, of who we are now as a parish, and of where we want to be as a people of God in the years ahead. Second, it prompts us to consider carefully the skills and personal attributes we seek in a clergy leader, and it gives any prospective candidate a chance to join us in mutual discernment of a possible call to be our next Rector. We will incorporate these points in a Parish Profile, built on feedback from the parish that will be distributed to interested parties.
At the end of this process, which will involve extensive interviews, reference and background checks, a review of candidates’ worship, sermon and pastoral practices, and lots of prayer, the Search Committee will recommend two or three names to the Vestry, who then will interview the finalists and select one. The Bishop then will review the selection and, if in agreement, will issue the call to the selected person. The wardens and Vestry will follow up with negotiations over terms of service, compensation and related benefits.
Done correctly, a search of this importance for a parish of our size and stature typically takes about 10 to 12 months before a new Rector is in place.
I will do my best to keep you informed of our progress. As I’m sure you understand, much of the search effort must be kept confidential while it is active. Both the search committee and the Vestry have been asked to maintain that confidentiality. To ensure a fair process, we also will be considering only names that come through responses to a posting on a national church clergy database. We simply can’t take any names directly.
Please join me in welcoming, and thanking, our Search Committee. And please accept my gratitude for your steadfast support of St. Anthony and this corner of God’s Kingdom in our time of transition.
May God bless us all,
Dan Austin, Senior Warden